A popular Coast to Coast walk that runs through North Yorkshire is to have a £5.6 million upgrade, it has been announced.
The stunning 197-mile walk runs west to east from St Bees in Cumbria, across the Lake District and into North Yorkshire, finishing at Robin Hood’s Bay.
And it is to become a National Trail, Natural England has said.
The route takes in three National Parks and was set out by the celebrated fell walker Alfred Wainwright in 1973, and around 6,000 people a year tackle it in its entirety.
Walkers cross through high fells, heather moorland and heath and the route is rich in history, passing Iron Age hill forts and medieval castles.
The upgrade means the route will meet official quality standards, including being more accessible for people of different abilities, having high-quality signs and path surfaces, adding circular routes for shorter walks, as well as more promotion to encourage domestic and international tourism.
The announcement also heralds a long-term commitment to help local authorities maintain the path.
Natural England will work alongside the Lake District, North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks as well as Cumbria and North Yorkshire County Councils on the upgrade, which should be completed in 2025.
TV presenter and keen walker Julia Bradbury said: “I’m so pleased that this well-trodden route is to become an official national trail.
“Taking in the magical Lake District, to the heights of the Peaks and the rolling landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales and Moors – it is just stunning.”
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